SMOOTH FOX TERRIER Official UKC Breed Standard Terrier Group ©Copyright 1999, United Kennel Club The Fox Terrier was recognized by United Kennel Club in 1912. The two breeds were separated effective January 1, 1999. GENERAL APPEARANCE The Smooth Fox Terrier is a muscular but agile, active, small-to-medium size hunting terrier, with sufficient length of leg to run with the foxhounds in a hunt, and built to go to ground after fox. The body is square and covered with a short, dense, smooth coat. The head is moderately narrow, with a flat skull, a barely perceptible stop, and a powerful muzzle that is equal in length to the skull. Ears are set high and are V-shaped, dropping forward, and carried close to the skull. The tail is straight, set high, and normally docked, but not close The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to the body. The coat is predominantly white in color. to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain The Smooth Fox Terrier is modeled on the symmetry the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance and power of the Fox Hound. When standing, the this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; distance between the front and rear feet is long in and to act as a guide for judges. comparison to the relative shortness of the dog’s back. Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to CHARACTERISTICS the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this The Smooth Fox Terrier is friendly, alert, active, and breed, and must take the responsibility to see that lively without being high-strung. Through his keen these are not perpetuated. expression and alert bearing, ears up and tail quivering, Any departure from the following should be the Smooth Fox Terrier gives the impression of a dog considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the ready to go anywhere and take on any task. The Smooth fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion Fox Terrier is bold but not aggressive with people. They to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare are affectionate with children but may be too active for of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its some. Although seldom used for hunting now, the traditional work. Smooth Fox Terrier retains a strong prey drive and will dig tirelessly after any underground vermin. HISTORY When fox hunting became popular in England in the HEAD late 17th century, hunters found the need for a dog that The head is long and moderately narrow. When viewed could go to ground and bolt the quarry. Terriers, game from the side, the skull and muzzle are equal in length, and eager, were ideal for such a purpose but most of parallel to one another, and joined by a barely the early terriers were dark in color and too low on leg perceptible stop. to run with a pack of foxhounds. Hunters began to SKULL - The skull is flat and moderately narrow, develop a longer-legged terrier, predominantly white in tapering slightly toward the muzzle. Cheeks are flat and color so as not to be mistaken for a fox. Early fox clean. terriers were primarily smooth-coated. By the end of Faults: Coarse skull; prominent cheeks. the 19th century, smooth and wire-coated Fox Terriers MUZZLE - The muzzle is strong and tapers slightly from were in great demand, both as companions and show stop to nose. Jaws are strong and muscular. There is a dogs. Although considered one breed for many years, minimum of falling away under the eye, giving a interbreeding of Smooth Fox Terriers and Wire Fox moderately chiseled look. Lips are tight and darkly Terriers ceased in the early 1900s. Except for coat, pigmented. however, the two breeds are essentially identical. Faults: Roman nose; dish face. TEETH - The Smooth Fox Terrier has a complete set of ground and, viewed from the rear, parallel to one comparatively large, evenly spaced, white teeth with a another. scissors bite. Faults: Cow hocks; open hocks. Disqualifications: ¼ inch or more overshot or undershot. Serious Faults: Short second thigh; straight stifles. NOSE - The nose is black and fully pigmented. Disqualifications: Dudley nose; butterfly nose. FEET EYES - Eyes are deep set, moderately small, nearly Feet are round, compact, and not too large. Toes are round, dark in color, with a lively, intelligent, sometimes moderately arched. Pads are hard, tough, and well- fiery expression. Eyerims are darkly pigmented. cushioned. Dewclaws may be removed. Fault: Light eyes. EARS - The Smooth Fox Terrier has small, V-shaped, TAIL button ears of moderate thickness. The ears are set The tail is set on high and customarily docked to a high and the tips are carried close to the cheek. The length that is proportionate to the body and provides a topline of the folded ear is well above the level of the good handhold. The tail is straight and carried erect, but skull. never curled or laying over the back. Faults: Low set ears; hound-like ears. Disqualifications: Prick, tulip, or rose ears. COAT Coat is short, and close-lying but hard, dense, and NECK abundant. Coat should cover the belly and the inside of The neck is clean, muscular, dry, and of moderate the thighs. length. The neck gradually widens from the nape and blends smoothly into the shoulders. COLOR White is the predominant color. FOREQUARTERS Serious Faults: Brindle, red, liver, or slaty blue. Shoulders are long, sloping, well laid back, fine at the point of shoulder, and well defined at the withers. The HEIGHT AND WEIGHT upper arm is shorter than the shoulder blade. The angle Desirable height for a mature male Smooth Fox Terrier formed by the scapula and upper arm is approximately should not exceed 15½ inches at the withers. A 90 degrees. balanced dog of that height should have a back length The forelegs are strong, straight, and moderately from withers to root of tail of no more than 12 inches, well boned. The elbows are set close to the body but and a head length of nor more than 7¼ inches or less able to move freely in action. The pasterns are short, than 7 inches. A balanced dog of these proportions powerful, straight, and flexible. When viewed in profile, should weigh about 18 pounds. Bitches are normally the pasterns are nearly erect. slightly lower in height and lighter in weight, but with Faults: Bowed legs; bent pasterns; knuckling over or any the same proportions. other misalignment of joints; out at elbow; toeing in or toeing out. GAIT A Smooth Fox Terrier moves with a brisk stride of BODY moderate length. Coming and going, the forelegs and The Smooth Fox Terrier body is square, measured from hind legs swing parallel to one another and point of shoulder to point of buttocks and from withers perpendicular to the ground, like the pendulum of a to the ground. The back is short and level, blending into clock. When moved on a loose lead at a moderate a short, muscular, slightly arched loin. The chest is deep speed, the hocks and elbows are the same distance but not broad. The ribs extend well back, with the front apart as the feet. Viewed from the side, the front legs ribs moderately arched and the back ribs well sprung extend well forward, but with very little height between and deep. The brisket extends to the elbow. The foot and ground. The rear leg swinging forward contacts forechest is well filled but does not extend beyond the the ground at approximately mid-length of the body. As point of shoulder. The croup is nearly flat. the leg moves beyond the rump, the foot is quickly Faults: Barrel ribs; chest too deep or too broad. lifted, creating a distinctive “snatch” of the hock. When moving, the back remains level. HINDQUARTERS The hindquarters are strong and muscular. The thighs DISQUALIFICATIONS are long and powerful, stifles are well bent, and the (A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered hocks are well let down. When the dog is standing, the for placement in a conformation event, and must be short, strong rear pasterns are perpendicular to the reported to UKC.) Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. ¼ inch or more overshot or undershot. Dudley nose. Butterfly nose. Prick, tulip, or rose ears. Albinism. The docking of tails and cropping of ears in America is legal and remains a personal choice. However, as an international registry, the United Kennel Club, Inc. is aware that the practices of cropping and docking have been forbidden in some countries. In light of these developments, the United Kennel Club feels that no dog in any UKC event, including conformation, shall be penalized for a full tail or natural ears. .